Plumas County, CA History
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta Jul 2009
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Illustrated History of PLUMAS, LASSEN & SIERRA Counties
with CALIFORNIA from 1513 to 1850, Farriss & Smith , 1882, San Francisco.
LOYALTON. - That portion of Sierra valley in which the town of
Loyalton now stands was originally known as Smith's neck. It derived its
appellation from a party of miners who were associated together under the name
of the Smith Mining Company, and were engaged in fluming and mining on the north
fork of the Yuba river, above Downieville. In the spring of 1854, having more
money than was needed in carrying on their mining operations, they sent two of
their number east to purchase a large band of cattle, while others came into
this valley to take up a large section of land for grazing and agricultural
purposes. These latter gentlemen went to about the center of the east side, and
laid claim to five sections of land lying on either side of a fine stream,
carrying about 500 inches of water, which empties into the middle fork of
Feather river, and which they called Smith creek. They built a house and
corrals, and improved about five acres of land, sowing it with wheat that fall.
This was the first attempt to raise this cereal in the valley. The men who had
been sent east for cattle failed to return, causing great disappointment to
their associates. Those in the valley had two yoke of cattle until about the
first of November, when the Washoe Indians killed one of the oxen Fearing a
general raid by the savages, the men hastened to the nearest white settlement,
fourteen miles away. about where the town of Randolph now stands. That winter
the Smith company failed, the Indians burned the improvements on the ranch, and
the men abandoned their location. Before leaving they presented Mr. T. S.
Battello with their crop of wheat, and the next July, being a settler in the
valley himself, he harvested the grain.
From the time it was abandoned by this company until the summer of
1857, Smith's neck remained unoccupied. At that time Redmond & Rolands relocated
the claim, but did nothing to improve it, simply remaining on the property. In
the spring of 1858 Redmond went below for teams, seed, and supplies, and has
never been seen in the vicinity since. That terminated the settlement. In the
spring of 1859 Peter Duncan located a quarter section of the Smith's neck land,
as did also John Schroeder and Alexander Bodnoch. Of these Schroeder is the only
one still residing on his location. Bodnoch died at his ranch in 1872, and his
place is now known as the Pool ranch. Peter Duncan sold his place in 1860 to
Rev. Adam G. Doom, who built and opened a hotel the following year. In 1863 he
was appointed postmaster of a new office established at his place, and which,
with the general consent of his neighbors, he called Loyalton. Through his
efforts a school-house was built in 1865, and also a Baptist church was erected
here in 1870, in the upper story of which was a hall. In 1871 a M. E. Church was
erected by members of that denomina-tion.
August 21, 1879, saw one of those fatal calamities visit Loyalton that
have been so destructive to the towns of California. By a fire which the people
were powerless to subdue, the whole town was laid in ashes, with the exception
only of Keyes' hotel and the M. E. church. The buildings were rapidly restored,
except the Baptist church, and a new school-house was erected. The town has now
a population of about 100, and contains two stores, one hotel, one church, one
school-house, one saloon, one blacksmith shop, one market, one livery stable,
and one town hall. The town is very prosperous, and is surrounded by a thriving
agricultural and dairy region that assures it a permanent and substantial trade.